The top running back in the first two weeks in fantasy football won’t be there for long. DeAngelo Williams has been a beast in weeks 1 and 2 for Pittsburgh, but his production is only short-lived.
It’s what fantasy owners knew heading into this season, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Williams will take a back seat to Le’Veon Bell when he returns from suspension. Williams’ work in the first two weeks may get him some more work in the future, splitting some carries.
However, he won’t be a factor in the coming weeks when Bell returns to the lineup in week 4.
You’re starting Williams in week 3, but likely taking a second look at the situation in week 4. Here’s the rest of the week 3 start/sit running backs fantasy football guide.
Start
Isaiah Crowell vs. Miami Dolphins
Anyone peering at stats may get more excited than they should after Crowell’s line Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He managed 133 yards on 18 carries for one touchdown. Those are more than respectable. But he mustered only 48 yards on 17 carries after recording an 85-yard touchdown run on his first carry.
Despite those limited numbers on the majority of his carries, I’m still sold on Crowell’s ability to score points this week based on multiple factors. He was named the feature back before the week 2 loss against Baltimore and I doubt he will lose that spot in week 3.
He also will be relied upon as the main offensive weapon with a third string quarterback at the helm. And finally, the Dolphins run defense just isn’t that good. They weren’t good last season and they weren’t good in week 2 against New England.
The only potential drawback is if this game gets out of hand early, the Browns will be forced to throw, limiting Crowell’s upside. However, while I believe this game will eventually get away from the Browns, it stays closer than some expect early, allowing Crowell to pile up some yards.
Melvin Gordon vs. Indianapolis Colts
Danny Woodhead is out for the season, meaning this is officially Gordon’s time to show he can be a three-down back. He should see more of a role in the passing game, which is something he showed he can do last year.
So far this season, Gordon has showed that we may have dismissed him too early after having a tough rookie year last season. He ranks fourth in fantasy points among running backs and tallied his first 100-yard rushing performance of his NFL career last week against Jacksonville.
Gordon should also get plenty of looks as quarterback Philip Rivers is missing yet another weapon in the passing game. Keenan Allen went down in week 1 and now Woodhead is on the shelf for the season.
San Diego needs Gordon to play more of a role in the offense and Indianapolis hasn’t shown much this year in stopping running backs. Detroit and Denver had little trouble running on the Colts. I expect San Diego to have a similar fate.
Eddie Lacy vs. Detroit Lions
If you’re like me, you may be getting frustrated with Green Bay’s inability to run the football. And when they do run, it’s not always Lacy who reaps the benefits of running the ball.
James Starks has seen plenty of time again, limiting Lacy’s ability to get anything going. But it’s not just the split carries. Green Bay isn’t even attempting to establish a run. Lacy is averaging 4.3 yards per carry, but has registered only 111 yards total this season.
For such a high fantasy draft pick, that doesn’t represent the quality that many anticipated after a rough year last season. But after two sub-par offensive performances, something tells me the Packers will attempt to establish the run Sunday against Detroit.
The Lions haven’t done much against the rush this season, allowing 5.1 yards per carry this year. Green Bay needs to establish the run and it will get the message finally in week 3.
Sit
Carlos Hyde vs. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle doesn’t allow opposing teams to run. And Hyde is in a difficult spot in San Francisco, especially on the back-end of back-to-back road games.
Hyde doesn’t do much in the passing game, meaning he’s extremely limited in a catch-up role. Despite the Seahawks getting off to a slow start, many expect this game to be one of those games in which San Francisco will be passing often to try to get back into the game.
And if that happens, then Hyde fantasy owners are in big trouble.
He hasn’t done much in the yards per carry category, generating a little more than three yards per carry. And he’s not contributing in the passing game.
He’s a regular starter for fantasy rosters, but this is a bad matchup on the heels of a bad game.
Frank Gore vs. San Diego Chargers
Gore is going missing in more games this season than in the past. And for a player who doesn’t do much spectacular, that’s concerning.
He needs carries to be considered a solid start. But he’s managed just 27 carries in two weeks, resulting in 103 yards rushing. It’s not going to get easier against San Diego, which enters as one of the best teams against the run this season.
I’m not completely fooled by San Diego’s solid rush defense. They’ve been in two games where the flow has dictated the other team to pass. But during the first part of the Kansas City game, the Chargers stuffed the run consistently until Kansas City went into ultimate desperation mode.
And speaking of desperation. The Colts are in that mode. Indianapolis’ best player Andrew Luck will be called upon to win Sunday’s game against San Diego. I’m expecting plenty through the air and little concentration on the running game.
Miami Running Backs
I don’t know who is going to get work for Miami. It appears that Arian Foster might not play in week 3 against Cleveland, meaning the Dolphins will turn to a committee approach against one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL.
That’s a situation I like to avoid.
If Foster was healthy, this would be a prime circumstance for a quality start. But Jay Ajay had an opportunity to take the reins of the starting role and proceeded to fumble last week. Other running backs also are in play, making this muddled backfield one to avoid in week 3.
It’s tempting to always start running backs opposite of the Browns. Don’t fall in the trap for his one.
